11 Years After Discharge, Army Tells Man to Report for Duty

“I finished my military duty 10 years ago and have been a member of Civil Defense Corps since then, but the government is trying to enlist me again. What nonsense!”

Kang Jae-seong (30) received a physical examination notice for conscription on September 24. At first he thought it was a mistake. Eleven years ago, in April, 1994, he joined the military and attended the Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy when he injured his back. He was discharged from the military due to his medical condition after two months.

He thought it was a joke, but called the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) anyway. He was shocked when he heard that he had to enlist in the military army until the end of this year.

“I finished basic military training, my back got injured. I was discharged from the military, and had my share of training in Civil Defense Corps for 10 years since then,” he protested. But MMA officials replied, “We have no documents that can prove your claim.”

He gathered his photographs, taken while he was in the military, and documents related to his Civil Defense Corps activity which he gathered for 10 years to show those to MMA officials, but no one believed his claim.

MMA sent a letter to him later, saying, “Even if your claim is true, you still have to join the military. Even if you were discharged from the Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy 11 years ago, it doesn’t mean you are discharged from the military.”

Kang says, “If I was not discharged from military, there was no reason for the government to train me as a member of Civil Defense Corps. I had got the training for 10 years, but MMA wants to enlist me again. This is just nonsense.”

He became desperate and visited the local provincial government office where he submitted his military related documents when he was discharged from military. He visited local provincial government office, the Ministry of National Defense, and Army Headquarters. However he couldn’t find any records that could help him.

He is currently waiting for an administrative appeal ruling.

“When the government makes mistakes, no one apologizes,” he says. “Those bureaucrats are just concerned about regulations and don’t listen to me. I have a bad credit record, and am going through a credit redemption procedure. If I join the military now, my family will have to go through a tough financial crisis.”

He plans to file a lawsuit against the Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense.